Lewis Hamilton of United Kingdom talking with Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, in the garage (Source: Getty)
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has claimed that Lewis Hamilton's self-critical nature took the pressure off the team while taking shots at his "devoted fans" who always target the Brackley-based outfit for his underperformance. The German team has been struggling for consistent performances ever since the introduction of the new aero regulations in 2022.
They have failed to deliver a competitive package throughout the season, despite finishing P3 and P2 in the last two years. Some Hamilton fans have been vocal about their frustration with the car's pace this year, especially given that 2024 marks the seven-time world champion's farewell from Mercedes.
While appearing on the High-Performance podcast, Wolff pointed out that Lewis Hamilton's self-critical nature has helped the team in relieving some pressure, saying:
"It takes the pressure off the team. He has some devoted fans that will always seek the fault of the team and he takes the pressure off the team. But he's also very honest and transparent about when somebody gets it wrong either him or the team's performance or anybody else and I think that means being authentic and credible."
